What is stress?

Stress is a feeling that we have in response to particular demands. Events that create stress cover a wide range of situations: they can be everything from taking a test, adjusting to a new environment, to facing a physical danger.

What are the common sources of stress?

Academic pressure

Pressure to fit in with peer groups

Adaptation to body changes

Transition to higher educational levels

Over-scheduling of extracurricular activities

Expectations from parents

Family and peer conflicts

Relationship problems

Career decisions

Financial concerns

What are the signs of being “stressed-out”?

Increased physical illness, due to suppression of the immune system

Mood swings: increased anger and irritability

Constant feelings of worry, nervousness, and hopelessness

Problems with sleeping and eating

Difficulty concentrating

Withdrawal from social activities

Can stress have positive e

PREVENTING SUICIDE

Suicide CAN be prevented and help IS available. Suicide affects both the person thinking about suicide and his or her friends and family. By recognizing the risk factors, warning signs for suicide, and knowing what to do if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, the devastating effects of suicide can be reduced. The most important thing to remember is to GET HELP!

Facts about suicide

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds

1 in 25 suicide attempts succeed

Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, but boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide

A person is more at risk for committing suicide if he/she has these risk factors:

What are eating disorders?

Distorted body image and obsession with the “ideal” figure can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as eating disorders. Millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders, and the vast majority of those affected are adolescent and young adult women. The two most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is the deliberate and prolonged fasting (starvation) driven by a fear of gaining weight. Sufferers are usually extremely thin but believe they are overweight. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by a destructive pattern of overeating followed by behaviors such as purging (throwing up), fasting, or excessive exercise.

What are the medical consequences?

Anorexia nervosa can lead to muscle weakness, anemia, hair loss, osteoporosis, low blood pressure, and drop in internal body temperature. For girls and women, anorexia can cause absence of menstruation, a condition known as amenorrhea. Studies have pointed out that people with anorexia are up to ten times more likely to die as a result of their illness. The most common complications that lead to death are heart attack and electrolyte and fluid imbalances. For people with Bulimia, the binging (uncontrolled eating) and purging cycle usually r

What is depression?

Depression is a psychological condition that affects your feelings, behaviors, and thoughts. Although most of us feel sad one time or another, a clinically diagnosed depression is a mood disorder marked by persistent sadness, discouragement, and loss of interest in usual activities.

Who is likely to develop depression?

Depression affects men and women of all ages, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. Although the most common time of onset is between the ages of 30 and 40, teenagers can also experience depression.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Persistent sadness

Irritable mood

Feeling of worthlessness

Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy

Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping

Changes in appetite: increase or decrease

Loss of energy

Difficulty concentrating

Thoughts of death or suicide

What are the causes of depression?

Social environment: Conflicts with peer groups, breakup of a relationship

What is body image?

Do you think you’re too fat? Have you ever tried to lose weight? When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? As the body experiences dramatic changes in height, weight, and shape during the teenage years, our image of ourselves also changes in the process. Body image is our personal view of our body and, more importantly, our belief about how others perceive our appearance. Body image can be closely linked to self-esteem, especially as teens grow into adolescence and become more concerned about how others see them.

How does negative body image relate to self-dissatisfaction?

Body image is often measured by asking people to rate their current and ideal body shape using a series of pictures. The difference between these two values reflects the amount of body dissatisfaction. Studies have shown that the majority of people are dissatisfied with their appearance, especially their weight. Teenage girls, in particular, see themselves as heavier than what they would like to be. The dissatisfaction with weig